DE MUN, ALBERTO: see MUN ALBERT, CONTE DI. DENARO (Lat. denarius). — A Roman silver coin (10 asses or 2½ sestertii), equivalent to the Attic drachma. It was the 25th part of the aureus; but under Nero it was reduced to the 32nd part of the aureus. It is frequently alluded to in the New Testament.
Although the Law forbade the use of human representations, the denarius bearing the emperor’s effigy, along with various symbols, was widely circulated in Palestine at the time of Jesus. One was presented to Him (Mt. 22:19 ff.; Mk. 12:15 ff.; Lk. 20:24), and the Master emphasized the presence of the imperial image and inscription. It was considered the daily wage of a laborer (Mt. 20:2, 10).